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Hired-help worker Ruangwong offered to show her the way but instead led her into the jungle where they started climbing a mountain.

Hannah, who was still tired after arriving in Thailand just the day before, innocently followed him before realising she was in danger.

Hannah is stretchered down the mountain before going to hospital (Image: The Phuket News)

The man pinned her down and tried to rip off her clothes - but Hannah bravely fought back and bit off part of his EAR.

She then fled but blindly ran off the edge of a cliff edge in the darkness fractured her spine and smashed her head on the way down before she landed crippled at the bottom of the cliff.

After falling down the cliff the attacker scrambled after her and repeatedly sexually molested her for several hours as she lay helpless.

Ruangwong left but then returned later with other people who raised the alarm and Hannah was rescued and taken to hospital.

Hannah said at the time: "I honestly thought I was going to die.

Hannah has no feeling in her ankles, feet and backside and is learning to walk again (Image: SWNS)

Backpacker Hannah had only arrived the day before the attack (Image: SWNS)

"I hit my head a few times and landed on a big bump. I was screaming in pain. It was the most painful thing ever,.

"I felt like a total vegetable. I felt completely vulnerable. I couldn't move anything.

Hannah was attacked after she got lost on Railay Beach and went into a local shop asking for help (Image: SWNS)

"I was stuck with this crazy person. I was in the woods in the bushes with wild snakes crawling on me while he was still continuing to harass me. He got on top of me. He took of his pants and masturbated on me.

"He didn't rape me but he did everything else."

Hannah bit off part of her attacker's ear before getting to her feet and fleeing (Image: SWNS)

Hannah was taken to hospital and later flown back to her home in Queens, New York where she is still undergoing intensive treatment.

Her mother Gwen and father Aaron have already spent thousands visiting Hannah at her bedside and now need to raise up to $200,000 to help her walk again - expenses not covered by her insurance.

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Gwen added: "We're raising funds to pay for medical bills, medical equipment, psychotherapy, and physical therapy which will not be fully covered by our insurance company.

"Hannah's recovery period is expected to last up to two years or more, and many of the expenses, such as physical therapy will not be covered after several months.

The beach in the resort of Krabi, where the young backpacker was staying (Image: Michael Saechang/Flickr)

" We may have to make changes to our home, including a remodeling of our bathroom to accommodate Hannah's disabilities. We are expecting out of pocket costs to be at least $50,000 and could be as much as $200,000.

"We have an immediate need for these funds as we have already incurred significant out of pocket costs.

"It is so meaningful to us that our family and friends want to help us in our time of need. We are forever grateful to anyone who wants to help."

Somchai Buakiri, a provincial prosecutor in Krabi, said the verdict will become final after 30 days.